View source for GNU Go

{{short description|Free software program that plays Go with the user}}
{{About|a software re-creation of the Go board game|the Google-sponsored programming language also known as golang|Go (programming language)|the different, older programming language by Francis McCabe|Go! (programming language)}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = GNU Go
| screenshot             = Gnugo screenshot.png
| screenshot size        = 250px
| logo                   = [[Image:Gnugo-logo.png|Logo by Ebba Berggren]]
| developer              = GNU Go Team
| released               = {{Start date and age|1989|3|13|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/devel.html|title=GNU Go Development Versions|access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1404540|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1404540|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1404540|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1404540|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| operating system       = [[Linux]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[macOS]]
| genre                  = [[Computer Go]]
| license                = [[GNU General Public License#Version 3|GNU GPLv3]]
| website                = {{URL|www.gnu.org/software/gnugo}}
}}
'''GNU Go''' is a [[free software]] program by the [[Free Software Foundation]] that plays [[Go (board game)|Go]]. Its [[source code]] is quite portable, and can be easily compiled for [[Linux]], as well as other [[Unix]]-like systems, [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[macOS]]; [[Porting|port]]s exist for other platforms.

The program plays Go against the user, at about 5 to 7 [[Go ranks and ratings|kyu]] strength on the 9×9 board. Multiple board sizes are supported, from 5×5 to 19×19.

== Strength ==
At this level of performance, GnuGo was between six and seven stones weaker than the top commercial programs on good hardware as of early 2009, but comparable in strength to the strongest programs not using [[Monte Carlo method]]s. It did well at many [[computer Go]] tournaments. For instance, it took the gold medal at the 2003 and 2006 [[Computer Olympiad]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computer-go.info/events/index.html|title=Computer Go - Past Events}}</ref> and second place at the 2006 Gifu Challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://computer-go.softopia.or.jp/gifu2006/English/08.html|title=Gifu Challenge 2006|access-date=21 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703231248/http://computer-go.softopia.or.jp/gifu2006/English/08.html|archive-date=3 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Protocols ==
Although [[ASCII]]-based, GNU Go supports two protocols—the Go Modem Protocol and the [[Go Text Protocol]]—by which [[GUI]]s can interface with it to give a graphical display. Several such [[GUI]]s exist. GTP also allows it to play online on Go servers (through the use of bridge programs), and copies can be found running on NNGS, [[KGS Go Server|KGS]], and probably others.

== Versions ==
The current (stable) version of GNU Go is 3.8. The latest experimental release was 3.9.1. There is also an experimental feature for using Monte Carlo methods for 9×9 board play.

A version called Pocket GNU Go, based on GNU Go 2.6, is available for the [[Windows CE]] operating system ([[Pocket PC]]). Versions based on the much weaker 1.2 engine also exist for the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Palm Pilot]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software|Video games}}
*[[Computer Go]]
*[[Go (game)|Go]]
*[[Go software]]
*[[GNU Chess]]
* [[List of open source games]]

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{Official website|https://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo/}}
{{GNU}}

{{Go (game)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gnu Go}}
[[Category:Go engines]]
[[Category:GNU Project software|Go]]
[[Category:Open-source video games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:GP2X games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]